Fleas

Ear mites

Chiggers

Ticks

Removing ticks

External Parasites

Fleas

Because stray pets animals like raccoons and opossums carry fleas everywhere, your kitten is going to get a few fleas when she goes outdoors-it just can't be helped. If these few fleas are not eliminated, the problem quickly multiplies. One flea lays 30 eggs a day, and those eggs become reproducing adults in two or three weeks. You soon have thousands of fleas.

Fortunately, new products have revolutionized flea control. The best method for you will depend on how many dogs and cats you have, where they live, and your own personal preferences.

Ear mites

Ear mites are tiny blood sucking parasites, nearly invisible without a magnifying glass. The same mites that ordinarily infest cats can also live in dogs' ears, but don't affect people. Besides causing pain and itching, mites encourage bacterial growth, so kittens infested with mites may also have ear infections.

Many kittens catch ear mites from their mothers at birth and already have a severe problem when first examined.  Your veterinarian has drugs that are easy, safe and effective.  Don't use the stuff from the grocery store - it's oily, irritating, and doesn't work very well.

Chiggers

Chiggers are much less commonly seen than fleas and ticks, and not really a serious problem, but can present quite a puzzle.  These are tiny little tick-like parasites, almost too small to see.  If your cat develops pimple-sized bumps on her body, or especially if you see inflammation on the edges of her ears, look very closely.  You may need a magnifying glass. At the center of some of  the little bumps, or lined up at the edges of  her ears you will probably see tiny little orange critters.  Those are chiggers.  Frontline Spray is the treatment of choice.

Ticks

Ticks are seldom a big problem for cats.  The few we find are usually in the neck area, suggesting that cats are able to groom most ticks out by   themselves.  If you live in a brushy area and  your cats are getting ticks, see Reasons to choose Frontline over Advantage.  Both products eliminate fleas, but Frontline also kills ticks.

Removing ticks

Pull the tick straight out without twisting.  Ticks aren't threaded, so twisting them merely breaks the head off more easily. When you finish, dispose of the tick safely, clean the tweezers, and wash your hands.

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